Our crew, along with our crew chief and his assistant were sent to Iwo Jima on detached service for one month where we were attached to the 506th Fighter Group. They were a P-51 group outfitted for long range missions and we escorted them to and from the targets they were assigned to. We did the navigating for them and provided limited air-sea rescue in case they were downed. We could drop life rafts and buoys that transmitted a location so a Navy submarine could pick them up. After our month was up we returned to Tinian and the 58th had gotten to know all the members of the crew quite well, and was disappointed when they were sent back to the States. I then was assigned to another crew which happened to be the squadron commander's crew. We made several more missions to Japan and on our way home from what was to be our last, we got the news that Japan had surrendered. After that, we went on P.O.W. missions to drop supplies to our imprisoned comrades that were in various places in Japan. The last flight I made to Japan was the overflight of the Battleship Missouri the day the surrender documents were signed. I had completed 35 missions by this time and was assigned to another plane and headed for the States. I did in two short years, more than many do in a lifetime, and served my country. I also made many lasting friendships, and attend our reunions regularly. I have lost many friends from the 58th as we all grow older, but have great memories of them. When one of my best friends, Bob Simpson, who was the secretary of the 462nd Group, passed away last summer. I was elected to replace him and presently serve in that capacity.